I have a friend that has always said that Roosevelt maneuvered the Japanese into Pearl Harbor to get the US into the war to help the British. He believes that members of our government knew the Japanese were on the way and had the aircraft lined up on the runways to demolish the older models so that newer ones could be built, as they would be needed. All but three of the ships were rebuilt and fought in WWII. I believe that those in power could have suspected what was about to happen and did nothing to allow it to happen. There is a difference in allowing things to happen and making them happen. Who knows, maybe he was right all along.

Roosevelt did not ask Congress to declare war on Germany Hitler made the big mistake several days after Pearl Harbor to declare war on the United States.
Wonder what would have happened had Hitler not made that blunder.

Roosevelt did not ask Congress to declare war on Germany Hitler made the big mistake several days after Pearl Harbor to declare war on the United States.
Wonder what would have happened had Hitler not made that blunder.

Roosevelt probably would have had a hard time getting that declaration of war on Germany at that time and perhaps for the for a while after that.

Hitler (once again ignoring sound advice) declared war on the US even though Germany need not do so under their agreement with Japan. Japan was not attacked which left Germany a solid out and war with the US at that time could (and should have) ben avoided.

So, the question is, if Germany never declared war on the US, when would the US have crossed the line?

...and had the aircraft lined up on the runways to demolish the older models so that newer ones could be built, as they would be needed.

In second half of 1940 the US built over 1700 combat planes and 1600 trainers.

In 1941, 8300 combat planes were built along with over 9000 trainers. Most of this production came off the lines before Pearl Harbor and the destruction of those older airplanes there. Those newer planes were coming off thel ines no matter what fate fell on those already on the airfields in Hawaii.

I know some of these planes were meant to be sent as lend lease but clearly that dramatic production increase reflected the US knew it was going to be in the fight somewhere soon.

Of special note is the number of trainers built. We were gearing up for war in a big way.

I suspect that the US knew the embargos placed on Japan would push that country to attack in the Pacific. I do not believe they suspected Pearl as an immediate target but certainly deduced the Philippines would be attacked. I am sure the size and scope of the Japanese operations in those opening months took them by surprise.